Railroad spike



March 31, 1936. J; HQJRJQWSKI 2,035,885

RAILROAD SPIKE Filed July 19, 1955 v '22 A? /Z 4/5 Z3 26 R *9 Jakob Hqj nouOS'ki Patented Mar. 31, 1936 ilNl'lED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in railroad spikes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a railroad spike especially designed for the anchoring of rails to ties and of the type to prevent accidental displacement or creeping movement of the spike relative to the tie so that the rail remains rigidly mounted and anchored to the tie.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railroad spike of the foregoing character wherein a key is associated with the spike to effect locking engagement between the spike and tie with the key constructed for interlocking engagement with the spike to prevent accidental displacement thereof and for the retention of the spike in the tie with the rail permanently anchored in position.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a railroad rail and tie showing anchoring spikes embedded in the tie and engaged with the rail;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the spike removed from the tie and with the locking key in position on the spike;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the locking key showing the side wings adjacent the head of the key that are adapted to be bent into engagement with the shank of the spike beneath the head thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View, partly in section of a rail and tie with another form of spike and locking key;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another form of spike; and

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the locking key for association with the spike shown in Figure 5.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing and particularly to Figures 1 to 3, the reference character l designates a railroad tie having a rail I! mounted thereon with the rail flanges i2 engaged by the heads l3 of the spikes I4 that are embedded or driven into the tie l0.

The spike M as shown in detail in Figure 2 has the head !3 thereof offset at one side in the usual manner for overlying the outer edge of the base flange l2 of the rail and a tapered or pointed end !5 to facilitate driving the spike into the tie l0.

The longitudinal side face of the spike I4 opposite the overhanging edge of the head I3 is cut-away as at l6 to provide a resilient leg ll joined to the spike l4 adjacent its lower end with the upper end of the leg I! free of the spike and terminating at a point below the upper end thereof. A pair of side flanges I8 is carried by the longitudinal edges of the spike H! at opposite side edges of the cut-away portion 16 and between which flanges 18 the upper ends of the leg I! is received as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The resiliency of the leg l'i tends to move the same into the cut away portion I6 between the guide flanges l8.

A key is associated with the spike l4 and as shown in detail in Figure 3, comprises an elongated blade [9 having a laterally enlarged upper end 20 providing abutment shoulders 2| with laterally directed wings 22 projecting from opposite sides of the upper end 20 and beneath the head 23.

The spike I4 is driven into the tie ID to position the overhanging head I3 thereof for engagement with the base flange [2 of the rail ll. During placement of the spike in the tie, the leg ll is substantially confined in the cut-away portion I6. The key is then engaged with the spike, the blade end l9 thereof being driven downwardly between the body of the spike and the leg I! and guided in its movement by the side flanges l8 on the spike, the key being driven into position until the abutment shoulders 2| engage the upper ends of the spike flanges I8. During the placement of the key in the spike, the leg I1 is moved outwardly of the spike to cause the outer toothed or corrugated face Ila thereof to bite into the tie ID for locking the spike in the tie. To lock the key in the spike, the side wings 22 thereof are then bent at angles tothe key blade I 9 for placement beneath the head l3 of the spike as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the key being retained in interlocking engagement with the spike, while the spike is locked in the tie It). To remove the spike 14 from the tie, it is only necessary to disengage the wings 22 from the head I 3 of the spike, remove the key and thereafter remove the spike.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figure 4, the spike I40, has a transversely extending offset abutment shoulder 24 on the shank thereof intermediate the ends and the key [9a, is driven into the tie [0 with the lower end 1917 angularly directed outwardly when engaged with the abutment shoulder 24 to assume the position shown in Figure 4. The upper end of the key l9a adjacent the head 23a has opposite sides thereof cut away to provide a pair of fingers 22w that are bendable away from the key |9a for placement beneath the head I30, of the spike I la, this arrangement effectively retaining the spike locked in the tie In.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the spike has an overhanging head 2E5 at its upper end and an abutment shoulder 21 intermediate the ends of the spike with a guide flange 28 at each side of the spike terminating at the lower ends adjacent the abutment 2'1. The key 29 as shown in Figure 6 has the reduced lower bladed end 30, a head 3| and laterally directed wings 32 adjacent the head. When the spike 25 is driven into a tie, the lower bladed end 30 thereof is guided by the side flanges 28 and directed outwardly by the abutment shoulder 2| for interlocking engagement with a tie, the wings 32 of the key being thereafter angularly bent i for placement beneath the head 26 of the spike 25.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and use thereof will at once be apparent and while there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:-

In a device of the character described, a railroad spike having a shank and offset head, a resilient leg cut out from one side of the shank and joined to the shank at its lower end, the outer face of the leg being transversely corrugated, flanges projecting laterally of the spike at opposite sides of the resilient leg to retain the leg in position relative to the shank when the spike is being driven into a railroad tie, a key adapted to be placed between the shank and leg to move the leg outwardly into biting engagement with the tie with the key guided into position between the shank and resilient leg by the flanges on the shank and an interlocking connection between the key and shank.

JAKOB HOJNOWSKI. 

